“The I.T. market here (Hong Kong) is small, but we have competitive advantages.”

The soubriquet “I.T. dog” for I.T. workers in Hong Kong, conveys the pessimistic view within the field, feeling not respected with their expertise. With the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau, is hope brought to the industry?

Serving in the industry for more than 20 years, and participating in public services actively, Honorable Charles Mok, JP talked to us about the I.T. industry.

“Outsourcing ICT workers is one of the major uneasiness in the field. The government and corporates took the lead to outsource IT staff to reduce costs, and this has gradually become common in the field. We have limited new blood graduates from institutes every year, and the welfare benefits in this field do not draw new blood nor keep the best of us to stay. I.T. professionals and companies now tend to go with the Mainland. The market is huge in Mainland China.”

Our Dominant Position

“The I.T. market here (Hong Kong) is small, but we have competitive advantages.” With seemingly unbeatable hardships, Mok has strong faith in Hong Kong’s market. “We do not have the Great firewall to censor cyberspace, and Hong Kong maintain the protection of intellectual property rights to the highest international standards. That is why we are still one of the largest data center in Asia, and multinational companies are getting headquartered in Hong Kong.”

“The field needs choices of good jobs. Apart from good welfare, on-the-job professional training is inevitable to retain talents in IT companies. The industry is ever-changing, we need the latest information and keep up with the world.”

A Blooming Sector

“The government has been eager to develop innovation and technology sector, with a HK$10 billion earmarked in the 2017 budget for ICT industry. But allocating money is not enough to help the field. Conservative laws are restricting new businesses like UBER and Airbnb to carry forward in Hong Kong. This is one of the constraints we are confronting for innovation businesses.”

With the help of government funding, a growth of tech startups based in Hong Kong shows up. “It’s nice that the young are devoted to the local market. But to make business sustainable, vision and scalability is necessary.”

Joined and leaded several I.T. companies, Mok has a word for tech startups. “A business does not have to limit to a small scale, aiming big might be the way to help your business grow,”